WHITE PLAINS – After years of paying for maintenance and expensive repairs, some Common Council members are asking whether the city should continue to toss coins into the Renaissance Plaza Fountain.

Having spent $100,000 over the past two years to replace paving stones and waterproof the popular water display, the council earlier this month tabled a vote on another $202,000 Capital Improvement project for the fountain.

The money would be used to replace 24 "smart sticks" and move them to another underground location to avoid damage from leaks. The sticks, described as "the brains of the fountain," are linked to a computer that controls the music, lights and synchronized streams of leaping water that make Renaissance Plaza a unique attraction in the Lower Hudson Valley.

"It seems like an endless expense," said Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona, an architect, urban planner and fountain critic. "We're spending too much money on this — money that could be used for other projects. There are always problems with it leaking or breaking down. There are other options, which would accomplish what the fountain does and save taxpayer money. We should be looking at those options."

Mayor Thomas Roach says he's reluctant to pull the plug on the fountain because it does what it was designed to do: attract people to the downtown business district.

"This is a destination for people. It brings crowds of families there in the evenings and on spring and summer weekends," Roach said. "It helps all of the businesses in the downtown."

He said removing the fountain would be costly and premature as the city considers a proposal to permanently close a block of Court Street to vehicle traffic between Martine Avenue and Main Street, along the plaza's border. The stretch, where the Farmer's Market is held, could be used for other outdoor events and activities.

"We should continue the preventive maintenance on the fountain until we decide what the long-term plans will be," Roach said.

There's no doubt that the $4 million waterworks created a splash when it was unveiled 10 years ago. Paid for with a combination of state and federal grants, it became the centerpiece of the city's downtown building boom and replaced an ominous gray, bunker-like fountain that previously stood at Main Street and Mamaroneck Avenue.

The new fountain, however, was awash in expenses caused mostly by water leaks. A Journal News investigation in 2011 found that electric and water costs, originally estimated at $20,000 per year, actually run closer to $40,000. The city has also shelled out $72,697 for six consulting visits from Toronto-based fountain design engineer Gerald Tester since 2004. That included the cost of air fare, hotel bills and meals. Tester is scheduled to make another consultation visit this month or next.

Lecuona says the plaza should be re-designed, with a smaller, less complicated fountain and more green space. And while she has her own ideas, she's suggested that a contest be held to get residents involved in creating a new plaza plan.

"There are options that will save taxpayer money and still bring people to the plaza," she said.

Councilman John Kirkpatrick said that he liked the contest idea but that he isn't ready to give up on the fountain yet.

"It's deteriorating and requires constant repair and maintenance," he said. "I think we should consider a redesign to make it simpler and less expensive, but I think the fountain needs to be kept in some form, because it's the focal point of the park and very popular."

Councilwoman Beth Smayda said the latest Capital Improvement Project was tabled "because we want to look and see what the alternatives are for the fountain, and whether this is the most cost-effective way to go. It's a wonderful public space and we want to keep it that way, but before we invest another $200,000 on the fountain, we should investigate what the alternatives are."

Her thoughts were echoed by the newest council member, Nadine Hunt-Robinson, who called the latest proposed expense "a significant amount. We have a responsibility to be sure that this is cost effective, or if we need to consider something else."

Council President John Martin, describing himself as "an unabashed fan of the fountain," said the money already spent on waterproofing should help the problem with leaks and bring the water costs under control and may diminish the need to move the smart sticks.

"Overall, it's money well spent as far as I'm concerned," he said. "I'm content to take a wait-and-see attitude on the new Capital Improvement proposal. Hold off for a year and then reassess the situation."

Roach said that if the fountain continues to be a drain on taxpayer dollars, other possibilities will be considered.

"We're at a crossroads," he said. "We have to consider what we want to do long term. Do we continue with the fountain, or go in another direction?"